North American Gluten-Free Market to Exceed $4 Billion by 2019

According to a recently released MicroMarketMonitor report, the market for gluten-free foods in the United States reached $2.49 billion in 2014, and is expected to almost double to $4.39 billion by 2019.

Gluten-free products suit the dietary needs of consumers with celiac disease, a lifelong autoimmune disease, which affects approximately one in 100 people. What’s driven the rise of gluten-free products, however, is the prevalence of people adopting a gluten-free diet to stave off what’s called gluten intolerance.

The current trend toward “free-from” products has also added to the demand for gluten-free foods. Many consumers associate digestive health, weight management and nutritional values with a diet free from gluten.

The research firm’s report analyzes gluten-free products in the following segments: bakery and confectionery, breakfast cereals, snacks, baking mixes and flour, meat and poultry products, and other foods. Products in the bakery and confectionery segment contributed the most sales to the gluten-free market in 2014, and will continue to lead the gluten-free category until 2019.

These findings align with research unveiled last month in the 2015 “State of the Specialty Food Industry” report from the Specialty Food Association and Mintel International. That report showed that more than half of specialty food manufacturers consider gluten-free products a high priority for innovation plans for 2015.

Large manufacturers dominate the North American gluten-free market, including General Mills, Hain Celestial, Boulder Brands and Mondelez International, according to MicroMarket. Manufacturers are employing a variety of strategies to increase market share, including product development, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, and the expansion of existing facilities.

MicroMarketMonitor predicted the gluten-free market will have a compound annual growth rate of 12 percent between 2015 and 2019.